Controlling device and means for opening or closing sliding windows, panels, and the like



March 31, 1931. H. SMITH 1,798,959

CONTROLLING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS, PANELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1928 '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 av F 9 Fig. 2 I

March 31, 1931. H. SMITH 1,798,959

CONTROLLING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OPENING 0R CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS, PANELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March 8, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 yum/T0 March 31, 1931. H. SMITH 1,798,959

CONTROLLING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS, PANELS, AND THE LIKE Filed March a, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 pvmwn Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY SMITH, OF STRAND, LONDON, ENGLAND CONTROLLING DEVICE AND MEANS FOR OPENING OR CLOSING SLIDING WINDOWS, PANELS, AND THE LIKE Application filed March 8, 1928, Serial No. 260,126, and in Great Britain April 6, 1927.

This invention relates to means for closing or opening windows, doors or other sliding panels or members, more especially sliding windows of motor cars (hereinafter refer-ed to as windows), although certain features of the invention are applicable broadly to the control of rotary oscillatory bodies.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved window control device whereby the window is adapted automaticaL 1y to assume or return to an intermediate open or partially closed position while being capable of being closed or fully opened with the minimum of effort, and readily locked in any desired position.

The window may be adapted normally to occupy a partially open position and tends, when displaced therefrom, to return to such position whether it be moved up or down.

It will be obvious that such an arrangement possesses advantages which are particularly useful to motorists as it provides the necessary weather protection for the driver for example, while at the same time it offers facilities for traffic signals.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for holding or looking in any position, a window in association with which a spring or the like is utilized for raising or closing purposes whether the window be wholly or partially raised. by its spring.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of simple construction which is capable of being inexpensively man ufactured and one which occupies a minimum of space in the window or other casing to which the invention is applied.

A further object of the invention'is to provide an improved device which may be applied or removed with facility from a win dow, door or other fitting.

According to the invention the window is operatively connected with a spring balance or counterpoise adapted normally to maintain the window in an intermediate or partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume or return to the predetermined position.

The locking means preferably comprise a wedge device adapted automatically to engage a rotary brake drum member and be drawn into locking contact therewith when rotation takes place in one direction. The wedge device may comprise a pair of wedge brake members arranged in opposite sense in combination with manipulative means for placing one or the othertemporarily out of operation, or it may comprise a wedge brake shoe intended to effect control Where movement occurs in one direction whilein the other direction of movement looking or control is effected by frictional brake contact, as for example by adapting the shoe to possess be sides its wedging brake action a resilient pressure brake effect.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation illustrating the application of the invention to a slidingwindow such as for example of the type known in connection with motor cars.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one form of the device according to the invention,mounted in a self-contained manner upon a panel.

Figure 3 is a similar View to Figure 2 of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the device shown in Figure 3 applied by way of example to a door of a motor vehicle. a

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 4 and Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation of operation mechanism illustrated in Figure 3.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode, as applied by way of example to a device wherein a brake drum associated with an internally arranged spiral spring is disposed with its axis at right-angles to the plane of the window, a brake drum and pulley member 1 are rotatably mounted upon a spindle or stub axle projecting from a panel or plate 2 which has an angled portion or flange 2a whereby the panel may be suspended or supported from the sill of the window with the plate depending downwardly into the window or door frame, the arrangement being such that the panel with its window control device is selfcontained, facilitating the installation of the device. One convenient way in which the panel may be fixed is by the aid of slideways or grooves which admit of the panel being introduced by sliding itdownwards into the window cavity and which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The pulley 1 has an endless pulley cord or band 3 anchored thereto. The lower bight of the pulley cord is passed round a guide roller 3a which is adj ustably mounted uponv the plate 2 by the aid of the longitudinal slot 2?). The pulley cord has secured to it a pin or other device 3?) adapted to be engaged or fastened to the bottom of the window to communicate the lifting force of the windowcontrol spring (referred to below) thereto.

If desired, a readily adjustable jockey pulley may be mounted on the panel and applied to the pulley cord to take up any slack which may develop. The drum and pulley are formed hollow and have a spiral spring 4, ratchet and pawl spring-tensioning means 466 being provided so that the tension of the spring may be adjusted to the desired degree according to the predetermination of the normal position of the window, its weight and the like. The spring is given sufiicient tension to cause the window to be raised'to the halfway, two-thirds or other desired position intermediate the fully closed and fully opened position, the arrangement being such th at-the window will always be ralsed and returned .to the selected position when released or free.

Thus it will be understood that assuming the window is pressed down by hand, the spring will return it to the chosen position and if the window is raised to the closed position, upon its being again released the spring with the aid of gravity causes the window to fall or return to the original position.

For controlling, that is to say, looking or braking the action of the rotary drum or'memher, the brake surface of the drum has lying in contact with it a pair of brake shoes 5-and 6 which are oppositely disposed and preferably located uponeither side of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the'drum. These brake shoes are curved on their inner and outer sides to form arcuate wedges. To wards the heel of each shoe a projection or shoulder 5a, 6a. is provided for the engagement of operative or manipulative means. The shoes 5 and 6 operate between the brake surface of the drum and abutments which are preferably in the form of rollers 7 pivoted to the plate or panel 2.

' drawing the handle 10 is shown in intermediate fixed stop or like member which may be carried from the panel support. Alternatively, instead of having a fixed stop a displaceable stop having a manipulativehandle may be provided so that the displacement in one directioncompresses one of the springs of the shoes while the other spring is either left free or placed in tension tending to cause the withdrawal of its shoe.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2 where a spring 8 common to the two shoes is employed, for operation a forked device comprising a channel or double-arm piece 9 having inturned ends is provided. The inturned ends are arranged so that they engage the shoulders or projections 5a, 6a of the shoes. For actuating the channel memher an operative handle 10 is provided which extends through a slot formed in the flange 2a of the panel member so that thehandle is conveniently situated for manipulation from the sill of the window by a sliding movement. The handle 10 may be mounted on a screwthreaded spindle so that on rotation it may be caused to lock (in any position to which it is adjusted) in the slot 10a. known temporary locking means may be provided for the manipulation of the handle 10 and channel 9-. It will be observed that in the a mid or neutral position.

While in the form illustrated the manipulative eifort of the operator acts directly to displace the forked member, such displacement'may be efiectedthrough a leverage or other device'adapted to obtain mechanical advantage.

In operation it will be appreciated that the pair of shoes 5 and 6 control the rotation of the drum in both directions so that the window may be held'or locked in the chosen posi" Alternatively, any

automatic character where the window normally maintains an intermediate situation.

he applied to a window having a rotary drum provided with a spring adapted to raise the window to the fully closed position, a pair of wedge brake shoes or members operated as described above, are adapted to act upon the bl'ftlifl drum. In this arrangement the brake shoes may be operated so as to lock the window against upward or downward move ments. For example, the window may be locked against downward movement when it is in the fully closed position, thus preventing any person from the outside of a car from opening the window.

In carrying the invention into otter-t according to another mode, exemplifying control means for the window in which a single wedge shoe is employed which is adapted to function both with a wedging action and with a trio tion brake efl'ect, as illustrated in Figure 3, a panel member 2 with flange 2a, bralze drum and pulley element 1, pulley cord 3, guide pulley 3a, spring 4 and spring tensioning means do are provided as already described in reference to Figure 2. The double wedges are replaced by a wedge shoe 5a operating between the brake drum and a roller abutment To. This shoe has a rear inclined or cam surface 56 upon which a leaf spring 8a is adapted to bear, the spring 860 being carried by the flange 2a or by another convenient fixed part. This spring is normally adapted to aid in causing the shoe 5a to take up its operative position so that a clockwise movement of the drum produces a braking action due to the wedge moving in between the abutment and the drum surface. The cam surface, however, is such that when the shoe is displaced rearwardly into a position in which the shoe has less or no wedging effect, it presses upon the shoe so that it acts as a frictional pressure brake.

Any suitable means may be provided for displacing the brake rearwardly into the post tion in which the spring has the effect of thrusting the shoe directly against the brake surface. For example the shoe may have an undercut portion adjacent the cam 57) which is engaged by a hooked plunger 11 mounted in a sleeve 12 the lower end of which is supported on aplate 13. The sleeve and plunger are adapted to protrude through the flange 2a and the upper end of the sleeve may be formed as a cam surface with which a complementary rotary cam member 14 is mountposition in which it operates as a wedge member. The arrangement of the device may be such that the wedging action of the shoe operates to control the window during dowir ward movement (as trom its closed position to its normal position) while the upward movement (as from the normal to the fully open position) may be controlled by the frictional brake action of the shoe. Obviously, the arrangement may be reversed if desired.

The balance spring it will be seen, besides enabling a spring of less power to be used thanwould be requiredfor raising the window to the fully closed position and, consequently, a narrower spring may be employed, thus decreasing the overall width dimensions of the device, has the advantage (particularly in connection with the drivers seat, where signalling is employed) where a semiopen position is usually preferred, that the window naturally assumes the desired position and returns to it when disturb-ed. The raising of the window to the midway position is automatic upon the release thereof from a position between the open and the normal position of the window, while when it is desired to close the windowthismay be eifected by hand.

In lieu of a single spring adapted to balance the window in the predetermined position sothat the window is returned after displacement in either direction, a pair of oppositely disposed springs may be employed, one adapt ed to raise the window to the selected point while the other is adapted to send the window down to such point after. being raised above it. i 1 i The panel or plate 2 is conveniently mounted in the structure to whichit is applied by the aid of grooves or slideways into which the panel-and associated elements is adapted to slide.

In Figures 4 and 5 the panel is shown mounted by way of example in a door of a motor-car, although it will be appreciated that the device may be applied to any other structure in which the invention finds a field of use. In these two figures the panel and window operating mechanism according to Figure 3 is illustrated but it will be understood o'f coursethat the forms shown in Fig ures 1 and 2 may be mounted in a similar manner.

The door shown in Figure 4.- is preferably provided with apair of transverse members 28 and 28a arranged betweenthestiles of the door.

If desired, however, the transverse members may be formed as a single member. Arranged at right-angles to the transverse member or members and secured thereto in any convenient manner is a pair of slideway memhere 29 and 29a rabbeted at 30 so as to constitute slideways or grooves into which the panel member QIisadapted to be received.

lit)

The upper ends of the members 29 and 29a are preferably recessed to accommodate the flangeQa'of the panel member and are adapted to limit the downward movement thereof.

The lower end of the panel member is adapted to be positioned and secured from lateral movement by means of a positioning element 31 secured for example to the bottom rail of the door and which is preferably of U shape so as to guide and position the lower 7 end of the panel member while it is being slid. into place. r

The upper member QSais pressed outwardly or recessed as shown at 28?) so as to provide a clearance forthe spring tensioning means eta.

If desired, instead of forming the transverse members and the panel member separately they may be formed integrally or attached together, in which case the panel memher and the transverse member or members would be received in grooves attached or secured to'tlie stiles of the door or other mem- Referring now to Figure 6 of the drawings, a modified form of'operating means for withdrawing the wedge'shoe a is disclosed and comprising a spindle 33 having a hook or other part adapted to engage the undercut of the brake shoe. The lower end-of the spindle 33 is of square cross section and passes through a cam member 34 attached to the flange 2a or attached, as shown,.toa flange 35 of a separate plate 35a which issecured to the panel member 2 in any convenient manner. The cam member 34 is preferably of truncated triangular form and cooperating therewith is a complementary member 36 which is screw threaded onto the upper end of the spindle 33. A spring is lo-' cated' around the lower end of the spindle and positioned between the flange 35 and a stop 38. V

In operation it will be appreciated that when the member 36 is rotated by means of a manipulating piece 39 to the position shown in Figure 6, the brake shoe will be withdrawn and when returned to the position shown in Figure 5 the brake shoe will be permitted to assume the brakin position. Continued rotation of the member 36 in either direction upon the screw threaded spindle will allow the brake shoe to be withdrawn or inserted to a greater or less extent, thus governing the eii'ective action of the brake.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-:

ers Patent is V l. A device for closing or opening win dows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake member operatively connected to the window, a spring adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return :dows and the like of the kind described com prising a rotary brake drum, a pulley element, a pulley cord element thereon and connected to the window, a spring associated with the drum and pulley adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, and means for engaging the brake drum with a locking action'to prevent movement of the window in any position.

3. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake drum, a pulley element, a pulley core thereon and connected to the window, a spring associated with the drum and pulley element adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the a-rra-ngen'ient being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom,

and brake means including a brake shoe adapted to operate upon the brake drum with a wedge-like action for locking the window in any position.

4. A device for closing or opening windows and the like ofthe kind described comprising a rotary brake member arranged with its axis at right angles to the window pane and operatively connected to the window, a spring adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, and brake means including a brake shoe adapted to operate upon the rotary brake member with a wedge like action for locking the window in any pos1-' tion. 7

5. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind describedcomprising a. brake drum, a C0-ilXl2Ll pulley ele ment the axis of which is at right angles to the window pane, apulley cord thereon and connected to the window, a spring associated with the drum and pulley element adapted normally to maintain the window in a pre determined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, and brake means including a brake shoe adapted to operate upon the brake drum with a wedge-like action for locking the window in any position.

6. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake member operatively connected to the window, a spring adapted normally to maintain the window in a pre determined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and re turn to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, and brake means including a pair of brake shoes oppositely disposed and adapted to operate upon the rotary brake drum with a Wedge-like action in either direction for locking the window in any position.

7. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising a brake drum, a co-axial pulley element, the axis of which is at right angles to the window pane, a pulley cord on the pulley element attached to the window, a spring associated with the brake drum and pulley element adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arrangement being such. that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, a pair of wedgeshaped brake shoes contacting with the brake drum, a spring between said shoes, abutments at the back of said shoes between which and the brake drum the shoes are adapted to operate, and operative control means for moving one or other of the brake shoes out of position.

8. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake member operatively connected with the window, a spring adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, brake means including a curved wedge-shaped brake shoe adapted to operate upon the rotary brake member with a wedge-like action for locking the window in position, and a spring adapted normally to thrust the wedge towards the operative position.

S). A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described com- 1 ising a rotary brake member operatively connected with the window, a spring adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the ar rangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, brake means including a curved wedge-shaped brake shoe adapted to operate upon the rotary brake member with a wedge-like action for locking the window in position, a spring adapted normally to thrust the wedge towards theoperative position, and amanipulative device adapted to withdraw the wedge member from its operative position.

10. A device for closing or opening win-. dows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake member operatively connected with the window, a spring for raising the window, a pair of oppositely disposed wedge-shapedbrake shoes adapted to operate upon the brake drum in opposite sense, sprin means for thrusting the brake shoes into their operative position, and operative control means .adapted to withdraw one or the other of the brake shoes from their operative position.

11. A device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising a rotary brake member operatively connected with the window, a spring for raising the window, a pair of oppositely disposed wedge-shaped brake shoes adapted to operate upon the brake drum in opposite sense, a spring between the brake shoes adapted to thrust them apart and operative control means for drawing one or other of the brake shoes out of theoperative position in such a manner that the spring reacts to thrust the other brake shoe further into the operative position.

12. A device for controlling the movements of a body adapted to rotate first in one direction and then in the other, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed wedgeshaped shoes adapted to operate upon the rotary body in opposite sense, and operative control means adapted to withdraw one or other of the shoes from their operative position.

13. A device for opening and closing windows of the kind described comprising a window structure, a plate having at its upper end a rotary brake drum and pulley member and at its lower end another guide pulley around which and the pulley member an endless cord is provided operatively connected with the window, said plate being applied to the window structure by the aid of interengaging parts on said structure and plate adapted so that the plate may be slid into position.

14:- A. device for closing or opening windows and the like of the kind described comprising counterpoise means adapted normally to maintain the window in a predetermined partially closed position, the arrangement being such that the window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, and means for automatically locking the window in any position to which it may be brought.

15. A device for closing or opening windoWs and the like of the kind described comprising spring counterpoise means adapted normally to maintain the Window in a predetermined partially closed position, the'arrangement being such that the Window is adapted automatically to assume and return to the predetermined position when moved therefrom, means for automatically locking the window in any position to which it may be brought, and manual control means for said locking means.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' HENRY SMITH. 

